Float



Aug. 18, 1936. c. w. WEBBER' FLOAT Filed Jul 16, 1954 INVENTOR v UAW. WEBER ATQTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1936 2,051,281 FLOAT Clare W. Webber, Cedar Rapids,'Iowa Application July 16, 1934, Serial No. 735,341

2 Claims.

This invention relates to floats generally and has more particular relation to floats adapted for use by children.

- While various floats have been proposed for supporting the body of a person in the water, such devices have not always proven satisfactory; first, for the reason that they were not adapted for children, and second, there were not sufficient practicable means for holding the child in the float so that it would not be able to get out or could not possibly work itself out of the float. While tubes of rubber and the like have been employed there has been no provision for maintaining the device in floating position and maintaining the child above the water if the tube became deflated. Furthermore, such devices when attached to rubber tubes, were attached only at narrow sections of the tube and the tube could belly up between the supports. Furthermore, the means of engagement of the supports to the tube frequently were such that chafing of the tuberesulted with consequent destruction of the usefulness of the device.

I have observed the difficulties of the devices of the prior art and have devised a device for overcoming these difficulties.- It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide an improved, new and novel float for supporting children in the water.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide efficient and satisfactory means for engaging the child in the float.

Another object of my invention is to provide auxiliary supporting means for supporting the child in the water even if the main supporting means becomes inoperative.

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide, in a float employing a tube, means for engaging the support to the tube which will obviate chafing of the tube and will not permit it to belly up between the supports.

Another object of my invention is to provide a continuous supporting means for engaging the tube of such a device.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a device constructed according to a preferredembodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in sectionyof a device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial view of a device con- 5 structed according to another embodiment of my invention wherein a modified float engaging support is employed, and

Figure 4 is a partial view of still another embodiment of my invention in whicha still further modified form of float and float engaging means is employed.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is shown at Ma C11?- cular tube which, in this preferred embodiment 15 of my invention, is constructed of a resilient material such as rubber, waterproof fabric or the like and which may be filled with airor other gas through the valve 1 l to hold it in distended position. The inner tube usually employed for automobile tires forms a very good float for the purpose. This float H3 may be termed the-main float and it isthis float which normally supports the weight of the child in the Water.

In order to furnish means for'engaging this support I preferably employ a ring-like top or flat circular member 12 of wood or like material to make it lighter than water so that it will have a buoyant effect. The outer diameter of the member 12 is preferably slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tube and the inner diameter of which is preferably slightly less than the inner diameter of the'tube.

In order to prevent the tubefrom bellying up between the supports for engaging the chair I preferably make this circular memberv 82, which may be termed the-auxiliary float, an entire ring.

In order that this auxiliary float may be strong and may furnish a stronger support at the point where it engages the tubular member ID and 40 also in order to make this auxiliary float so that it may be dismounted to take only a small space I preferably employ arcuate sections 1211. A preferred number of sections is six but of course any number may be employed. These sections may be secured to each other by securing means indicated at 13, which may take the form of clinched nails or split rivets, or bolts and wing nuts to facilitate taking the float apart.

The main float It is preferably engaged to the auxiliary float 62 by means of wire straps M which are fastened to the under side of the auxiliary float by screws I6 or other suitable fastening means. These straps are preferably U- shaped and encircle the main float. They are preferably fastenedto the auxiliary floatat the junction of the sections, such as sections l2a and l2b, and if desired bolts and wing nuts may be employed in place of the; screws 16 and these fastening means maybe employed not only to eng'age the'mainfloat "tothe auxiliary float but also toihold the various sections Ila. I21; and

i 5 so on, together.

The child is preferablysupported by means of a. saddle-like member 11 disposed centrally of ,the main and auxiliary floats and located in a plane well below these floats so that the device will not tip over in use. In supporting the saddle.

member 11 I preferably employ a'plurality of L-shaped metal strap-like members l8.

lower-arc'uate members, as for instancethe members l2b, l2d, and. I'Zf, and preferably extend in the samehorizontal'plane inwardly to points justabove'theouter edge of theisaddle l1, th'endownwardly over the'edge of. the saddle as indicated at I81), and then inwardly beneath the saddle as indicated at we. The portions I8c of the sup- 7 ports III are preferably fastened beneath the saddle ll by means of any suitable fastening means such as screws,'nails, bolts, or wingnuts, as indicated at). V 7 V v V The portions l8a' and Nb of the 'supports'l'i} are preferably separable and may be engaged to each other as by means of rivets'20 or bolts and thumb nuts as desired so'that the devicemay be made dismountable and may be adjustable in -length to raiseand lower the saddle with'refereither accidntally'or' through his own efforts.

As an additional precaution the strap 22 'of leather; webbing or the like may be engaged on the's'upp'orts' I8'just above the circular strap 2| and may be more'tlghtly .eng'agedaboiit the 7 child topositively hold him in place in the float. I It may readily be understood that the device may be'a'ssembled and disassembled and adjusted for various "ages of children. The device will float even if the main float is punctured or other- Jwise rendered inoperative and thus sup'port the child in the water even if themain float is deflated. The device forms a rigid support for the child which cannot be overturnedparticularly as the saddle is always at. the center of the device well below the floats. The circular strap 2| is These 7 members are preferably radiallylocated andare preferably fastened to the upper faces of the 2,051,281 7 V V V 7 of importance in securing this 'result since it" 'limits the movement'of the child which might tend to overbalance the device.

'In Figure 3 I have illustratedanother embodiment of my invention in which the ci'rcular'member' or auxiliary float 12' is replaced bya metal member 31. 'This metal member 3|. is a ring-like member which is concaved at theunder side as illustrated at 32. 7 7 provided with beads 33 at either edge thereof and a strap 34is employed forcholding the tubes36 in place beneath the member 3]. 3] corresponding to the-membersshownin Figure 1, are preferably secured to the under side of the member 3| and are curved to conform to the concave surface of the member. .Thisde vice has the advantage of the engagement of the The member 3| is preferably" The supports tube 34 through a relatively large portion of its surface and the device makes. a'pleasing appearance when constructed in this-manner. I I have shown still another embodiment of my inventionin Figure 4 ofthe drawing; 'TA tube 4| preferably of metal is employed for the main float 1 and the supports 42 corresponding to the sup-' ports I 8 of Figure 1 are'preferably engagedto the tube 4| as by means oispot welding or the-r like as indicated atf4'3. A device constructed in accordance with this embodimentof my inve'n-' tion may be plated with metal or chromium plat- V appearance- V V s Although I have described'several e b y ing and thus maybe made to have a very pleasing ments of my invention I do'not wish' to be limited thereto, since modifications thereof may be made.

by those skilled in therart and such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the l pended claims. V y

I' claim as my invention: r I

1. In a float, a main float, an' auxiliary ring-V like float made up'of sections of buoyant material in order that it may be easily dismantled,

gether, L-shaped supports engaged tothe auxiliary float, and a saddle-like seat adjustably' se-. cured to the L-shaped supports to accommodatevarious sized users; 7 V V 3 r 2. In a float, a circular tube-like float,a ring-'- like metal member disposed over the circular V 7 float, said member being of thin arcuate crosssections, U-shaped-wire members engaging/the ring-like memberto the tube-like float, rigid .L- shaped supports engaged to the ring-like member, and an adjustable saddle-like seat secured to the L-shaped supports.

CLARE W. 'WEBBER.

7 fastening means for securing the sections to- V 

